Improved plow-clevis



J. D. WILLOUGHBY.

Plow Clevis.

Patented June 2, 1857.

UNrrED. STATES PATENT OFFICE.

IMPROVED PLOW-CLEVIS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 17,462., dated June 2, 1857.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J. D. WrLLoUcHBY, of Pleasant Hall, Franklin county, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement on Plows; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

In connection with a spring, I provide a clevis or draft-rod, by means of which the plowman can regulate the plow to run deep or shallow and to take more or less land.

To enable others skilledin the arts to make and use myinvention, I will proceed to describe its construction and operation.

I construct my plow in any of the known forms-and attach my clevis or draft-rod and spring to the underside of the front end of the beam.

Figure 1 shows a longitudinal section taken in the line w m, Fig. 2; A A, arms extending outward three inches each way from the center of the stem of the clevis or draft-rod. These arms have holes in them at different points, into which a swivel-hook is put for the purpose of attaching horses or other motive power to the plow. B is the cylinder. B is the stem of the clevis or draft-rod, which is about three-fourths of an inch thick and seven inches long. 0 is a button four inches in diameter, and is fastened firmly upon the rear end of the stem of the-clevis B. The periphery of the button has notches or grooves in it of the shape of the letter V. A cylinder of vulcanized india rubber, six inches long and three inches in diameter, with an orifice of an inch longitudinally through the center, is placed upon the draft-rod B, between the button O and the stationary bolts F F. Ihis forms the spring-power. A metallic spring may be used, but will notanswer'as well as rubber.

Fig. 2 represents an end view, showing the button with notches on itsperiphery. (Marked E.) i. is an elevation which commences at the 'rear end of the tube and extends about three inches forward toward the front end'of the tube, and is about three-eighths of an inch high and of a wedge or V shape. This butuntil the button 0 has passed the elevation-6.

Then the clevis can be turned to any desired position, shoved back to its position, and secured again by bolts F F.

The operation of my invention is as follows: When forward motion is applied to the clevis the button 0 in Fig. l presses against the rear end of the rubber spring and forces the front end of the rubber spring against the bolts F F. (Seen in Fig. 3.) The draft, in ordinary plowing, will compress the rubber about onefourth of an inch; but when the plow strikes a rock or any firm obstruction the rubber will compress a number of inches, which permits the clevis to move forward the same distance, although the plow remains stationary, thus avoiding the stroke or jar upon the plow and horses, which often breaks the former and injures the latter.

The button 0 in Fig.1 or grooves Ein Fig. 2 perform three distinct oiiices: First, the button holds the clevis in the tube in the position which it is placed in; second, the button fills the tube, and consequently prevents any side motion on the part of the stem B, to which the button is attached; third, the button sustains the draft on the rear end of the rubber.

The washer a (seen in Fig. 3) also performs three oifices: First, the washer fills the front part of the tube, and as the stem of the clevis B passes through an oritice in the center of the washer the stem is thereby kept in position by the washer; second, the washer a sustains theforward pressure of the rubber spring third, the washer-a, in connection with the button 0, holds the clevis-stem B in the cen' ter of the tube B, and as the rubber spring is on said rod or stem the rubber is thus kept from rubbing on the sides ofthe tube B and erated in the manner and for the purpose substantially' as described.

' J. D. WILLOUGHBY.

Witnesses: I

T. G. CLAYTON, J 0s. 0. CLAYTON. 

